UIL discusses adding sixth conference

By BY MIKE FORMAN
July 20, 2010 at 2:20 a.m.

SAN ANTONIO - The possibility of a sixth conference for high school athletics in Texas has been discussed for years, but could become a reality in 2012.

Charles Breithaupt, executive director of the University Interscholastic League, said at a Texas High School Coaching Association coaching school news conference on Monday that member schools would be surveyed in September and the results will be brought before the Legislative Council in October for a decision.

Breithaupt said the details of a six-conference classification would be left up to the members, but he could envision a scenario with four teams from each district advancing to the playoffs in each classification.

"I think there is a lot of interest, from our schools, not our staff, in having six complete conferences and having four teams in the playoffs in everything," Breithaupt said. "I think it's more likely than ever. It's more than just a super conference."

Breithaupt said the UIL is entering its 60th year of five conferences, and admitted the move to six conferences could mean longer trips for some schools.

"The more you divide and the more you separate," Breithaupt said, "the more you increase travel."

Breithaupt said the UIL is looking into the possibility of making the biennial reclassification and realignment more transparent.

Breithaupt said the UIL is considering posting the average daily attendance submitted by schools and the sports they wish to participate in for 10 days to two weeks before beginning the actual reclassification and realignment takes place.

The realignment and reclassification would still be done in private, but schools would have a better idea of where they would end up for the next two years.

"We would have a date to put up numbers and give the schools maybe 10 days to look at them to see if they're correct," Breithaupt said, "You might know pretty good where the cut line is going to come."

Breithaupt also said the UIL is looking into instituting area meets involving two districts for a number of sports in every classification. Class 1A currently holds area meets in track and field.

Breithaupt said the area meets are a good way to increase participation while cutting down on travel costs.